Museum Purchase: Indian Collection Subscription Fund, Rasmussen Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Art. Collected: Axel Rasmussen

Leather purse and wallet (part of a girl’s costume with 3052/18-24). The purse (part a) is a light brown, flat leather bag with rounded bottom corners, edged with scalloped dark brown leather pierced by metal circles. These also decorate the front of the bag, outlining a half circle of patterned dark leather, and a diamond shape above. Small circular cut-outs surround these shapes and are backed with dark brown leather. The purse has a leather thong drawstring at top. The shoulder strap is short and thin, with circular cut outs along its length. It is attached to the bag with metal rings. Part b is a small wallet that fits inside the purse. The body is white, with a dark brown flap similar to the decoration on the front of the purse. It closes with a snap. A line of metal circles pierce the top of the flap. The interior is lined with black leather.

The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.

Gift of the Harris Family descendants, Port Orford, Oregon.

Tribes such as the Yurok of northwestern Califonia and the Klamath of southern Oregon carried on a lively tradition of carving items from both elk antlers and wood. Elk antlers were cut in sections to be fashioned into small containers for dentalia, a marine shell that was used as money by the Yurok and other tribes of northwestern California.

Small tightly woven bag with design of three standing birds in profile. On one side birds are in red on green base; other side, birds are in green on red base. Both sides have purple bottom band of colour and an alternating blue and brown top band with a left facing chevron pattern. Bag has a light blue zipper closure on top edge.

Rectangular bag with red zipper closure, completely covered in embroidery. Black base colour with large pink and orange roses and foliage with different hues of green, blue, and purple. Sides of bag are in a stacked V pattern in multiple colours. Bag lined with brown cotton fabric.